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Contemplating IT

Onward 2009January 5

It is great how most of us embrace the new year with optimism and enthusiasm. However, it has been exhausting dealing with the economic clobbering we took in the last four months of 2008 - personally I feel a bit punch drunk. The biggest challenge we face in 2009 is uncertainty. In business uncertainty is an anathema and can have a paralyzing impact - which creates a vicious downward cycle.

Many economists are encouraging those with money to spend, spend, spend - I agree but proceed cautiously. In my business I don't mind spending money but I do mind wasting it. That is why it is important to implement those things that will save and make money for your company. A simple philosophy that is easily undone and forgotten. However, we all must make this idea of save/make money our mantra. We often hear about how solutions and services can save you money but rarely do we hear about how it can make you money. The "save money" aspect is easier because IT is more often than not considered a cost center. It is the "make money" that is the harder concept and one that we often just pay lip service.

I encourage and recommend a shift in consciousness around IT spending - to truly prioritize on that which can save and make money for your business. Saving money should be a priority - consider how much revenue must be generated to make one dollar towards the bottom line. You may need to spend to save - but when you make these decisions be sure to do the ma

Forrester Asks: Do You Really Need A SAN?December 17 2008

A recent Forrester report - “Do You Really Need A SAN Anymore?” - challenges the value for having storage area networks (SANs). The title suggests a bold thesis and implies a new alternative to the status quo. However, it falls way short of the expectations created by the title.

Go to my HDS blog to read my take on this report - Forrester Asks: Do You Really Need A SAN?

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

The Challenges of SRMDecember 8 2008

http://storagebod.typepad.com/storagebods_blog/

I have been reading a storage blogger and IT professional called Storagebod and he recently has been calling for better Storage Resource Management tools. He makes good points in his post called Dear Santa, can I have a good Management Tool? Check out the comments too - there is a good conversation on this. Here is my take:

The problem with most (all) SRM tools - candidly - is they are a mesh (or mess) of different programs all glued together. In some (all?) cases - their foundations were poorly architected and developed - and then built on year after year after year increasing the mesh/mess.

It seems to me - the large storage vendors don't have a vision that focuses on SRM. And they have made such a huge investment it is hard for them to step back. But I think a multi-year project building new SRM tools is needed - taking everything they've learned over the years and get it right. Sometimes it easier to build a new house than trying to fix an old one with lots of problems. And just like building a new house - there are better tools, materials and methods than what we had 10 years ago.

Part of the problem is managing SRM agent software. What is needed is excellent performance, interoperability and easy man

Data De-Duplication and the EconomyNovember 25 2008

I think it makes sense to focus on the economy - since we are in unprecedented times. One of the most important technologies as it relates to the economy is data de-duplication. I have been analyzing and writing about data de-duplication since 2003 and in that time it has proven to be real, compelling and valuable to end users. The only reason not to invest in data de-duplication is that you simply don't have that much data.

Data de-duplication has been most widely deployed with disk-to-disk (D2D) backup. If you have been considering a D2D backup solution with data de-dupe, then think about actually making it a priority this year. Yes, the stuff really works.

If you are just using tape, the economics may not be clear to you because the physical cost per MB of storage for tape is cheaper. But you have to look at the cost of "virtual" MB. The right approach is to measure the cost of the de-dupe solution based on the effective amount of data stored. A 10-to-1 de-dupe solution is backing up 20 TB of data on 2 TB of physical capacity. And achieving 10-to-1 is conservative.

And let's face it - tape sucks. You can keep your tape system but reduce the amount of times you use it - instead of daily or even weekly fulls - do your full backups once a month to tape. This reduces tape rotations, lowers operational costs and minimizes human error.

Data de-dupe is also finding its way into primary storage as well. IMO this makes a ton of

Risk versus InnovationNovember 17 2008

In the world of IT, there is an interesting balance between innovation and risk. While innovation is what is usually talked about – it is the mitigation of risk that often drives the decision. That is why the IT leaders remain the leaders and the startups spend most of their time pushing boulders up a hill.

In the world of IT quantity is quality – the more product you have in the field within production environments – the less risk there is for the next guy. But if that is the case – then aren’t startups always at a disadvantage? Abso-friggen-lutely. Startups have to bring compelling technology to the table in order to even be considered. Startups shouldn’t even be allowed in the door unless that is true. Otherwise it’s a waste of everyone’s time (including their own). But assuming they have done this – then the next most important thing startups need to focus on is risk mitigation!

Luckily for the startups – there are end users that are “early” adopters. But I am still shocked at the number of startups that have terrible customer reference programs, awful case studies and very little focus on customer testimonials. And hardly anyone ever, ever, ever leverages their channel partners for testimonials.

In many cases, IT professionals are not implementing innovation – that is the unspoken reality – by adopting the leaders. However, they do so because it is the safe choice. And at the end of the day – when